Flaw detection



Oct. 4, 1960 J. D. w. BRYANT ET AL FLAW DETECTION Filed Nov. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OSCILLATD l N +14/ Oct. 4, 1960 J. D. w. BRYANT ET AL 2,955,253

maw DETECTION Filed Nov. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6.

. eonara Tomas /verrzzm United States Patent n 2,955,253 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 ice FLAW DETECTION John Dudley William Bryant, Aston, Birmingham, and Leonard Thomas Perriam, Erdington, Birmingham, England, assignors to Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, London, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Nov. 14, 1956, Ser. No. 622,214 Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 7, 1956 24 Claims. (Cl. 324-37) This invention is concerned with the non-destructivedetection of ilaws in metals and is particularly concerned with 4a probe device for detecting aws in `and testing generally, tubular metal elements such as boiler or condenser tubes, without damaging the tubes. It is desirable periodically to test, in a non-destructive manner, boiler or condenser tubes, in order to determine whether aws, such as those caused by internal corrosion, have developed'during the use of the tubes, since these flaws weaken the tubes. The tubes usually are stacked together in bundles and their inspection is not, therefore, easily accomplished.

Magnetic `and electrical methods have been employed for the purpose of non-destructively testing condenser tubes. In such methods it has been customary to employ a Haw-detecting probe deviceA which is designed so that it `can be drawn through a condenser tube and which comprises a core of magnetic material provided with three axially-spaced radially-extending flanges of magnetic material. Two insulated coil elements are coaxially wound around the core, so that each coil is disposed between a pair of flanges. The coils are serially connected and are adapted for connection in two of the arms of an electrical measuring-bridge circuit.

When the coils of such a aw-detecting probe device are connected to a source of alternating current, the llanges act as pole-pieces and a magnetic ield is set up above 100 feet per minute, the eddy currents produced in a given part of the tube by the leading coil have by each coil, such iield extending externally of a coil between the pole pieces. It will be appreciated that the intermediate ange acts not `only as a pole -piece for one of the coils but also as a pole piece for the other of the coils.

When the haw-detecting probe device is placed within a tube, each field will generate eddy currents in the tube and these eddy 'currents will react on the coil producing the eld so as to modify its resistive and inductive com-.- ponents.

The eddy currents generated in a tube are determined by the conductance of the material, the volume o-f the material of the tube which is scanned by Va coil at any position of the coil, and by the air gap between `the pole pieces and the internal wall of the tube, which has a loading eiect on the coil.

If the coils form part of a bridge circuit which is balanced When the :haw-detecting probe device is within a part of a tube without kany iiaws, and the probe device is moved along the tube, the bridge will become unbalanced when a coil passes a aw in the tube since the eddy currents produced by that coil will be changed by the flaw.

An indication of the existence of such ya liaw can be given by a pen recording device suitably connected to the bridge circuit, any ilaw in the tube resulting in a kick to one side o-r other of the normal trace of the pen.

It has been found in practice that such a flaw-detecting a tube -at a'relatively low speed,-e.g. about 20 feet per embodiment of the invention.

not completely decayed when eddy currents are produced in the same part of the tube by the second coil. This produces spurious results, and can be regarded as a speed effect, since the bridge becomes unbalanced, although there is no aw in the tube.

Under some conditions it is essential to inspect condenser tubes at a relatively high speed, for example in the case of a power station where the plant must be idle for as short a time as possible, and it is an object of this invention to provide a flaw-detecting probe device which can readily be adapted -to operate at -a relatively high speed.

According to this invention, a Haw-detecting probe device comprises a core of magnetic material, 'a ange of magnetic material -at each end of said core and extending radially of the said core, an insulated coil element wound yaround said core between said flanges, said coil being adapted to form one arm of a measuring bridge circuit, and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to said llanges, the pole pieces being substantially parallel to the taxis of the core and the distance between the two pole faces of the pole pieces being lessthanthe distance `between the flanges. Y 7, A

According to a feature of the invention, two identical coils `are employed and the gap between the pole pieces of one coil is greater than the gap between the pole pieces of the other coil, fora purpose which will be described hereinafter. Y

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view, partly in section, of a flaw-detecting probe device in accordance `with one embodiment of the invention;

FigureV 2-is a schematic arrangement of a suitable ciri cuit for use with the probe device;

Figure 3 is -a view similar to Figure l, of a modifica.` tion of the naw-detecting probe device;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure ly of another modiioation of the flaw-detectingprobe device;

Figure 5 's Ian elevational view, partly in section, of a flaw-detecting probe device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; -and Figure 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a ,flaw-detecting probe device in accordance with a third Referring to'Figure 1 of the drawings, the probe device comprises a central corel of magnetic material having end llanges 2, -3 and a central ange 4, also of magnetic material. The leading end of the device is provided with a dome-shaped nose-cap 5, which allows minute, but when drawn through at a high speed, e.g. i y

the device easily to be inserted -in and moved along a condenser tube or other tubular member.

The other end of the device has an insulated handle or tail piece .6 by which the probe device can be held and through which electrical lead wires 'to an external electrical circuit may be passed. Y Y v YA coil 7 is'wound between the flanges 2 :and 4 and an identical coil 8, thatv is to say one having .the` same electrical land magnetic properties as the coil 7, is wound between the anges 4 and 3. One end of coil 7 is con,- nected to an electrical connect-ion 9, ,the corresponding end of coil 8 is connected to an electrical connection 10', and the otherY ends of the two coils are connected to the core 1. 'Ihe core in its turn isv joined to anelectrical connection 11. The electrical connections 9, 10 and 11 are carried by the handle 6.

The probe device i-s provided with three pole pieces 12, 13 and 114. The pole pieces arecylindrical, pole piece 12 surrounding the leading-end portion of coil 7, pole piece 13 surrounding the tail-end portion of coil 7, the flange 4 and the Ileading end-portion of coil 8, and pole piece 14 surrounding the tail-end portion of coil 8. Each pole piece is secured by pegs P to its associated flange to ensure magnetic stability, and the air gaps 15 and 16 between the pole faces are arranged t0 be equal in length` and at similar distances from the central ilange 4. The gap between adjacent pole faces of a pair of pole pieces is thus shorter than the axial length of a coil.

If desired, the air gaps may be filled with a suitable synthetic resinous material (not shown). and the device enclosed within a sheath of high-resistivity material (not shown), such asV stainless steel, which` has little or no eiect'on eddy-current losses and which can act to guide the device along a tube. Furthermore, when the stainless steel sheath is longer than the probev device, the angle through which the probe device might tilt during use is considerably reduced. Y

The two coils form two arms of a modified Faraday or inductance bridge circuit, the other parts of the bridge being formedI by resistances 17, 18, 19 and 20 and vari- :able resistances 21 and 22. Variable resistance 21 is connected to the connector 11 and hence to the coils 7 and 8 and is also earthed. Variable resistance 22 is also connected to'one end of a resistance Z3 which forms part of Vthe input circuit Vof a selective amplitier 24. The output 'circuit from the amplier can be switched to a meas-V uring device 25 which is used for Vbridge-balancing purposes.

The amplifier 24 may also be switched to a phase discriminator apparatus 26 which in turn is connected to a direct current amplifier 27. The amplifier is connected to a high speed recorder 28 of the pen type, and an alarm device 29. Y

The modified Faraday bridge circuit is connected to secondary winding 30 of a transformer 31 forming Vpart of an oscillator 32, andthe discriminator 26 is connected to secondary winding 33 of the transformer 31 by way of a circuit including a variable resistance 34 and con- :densers 35 and 36. The frequency ofthe oscillator will determine Athe depth of penetration of the eddy currents in an article under examination, thehigher the frequency vthe lower the depth 'of penetration.

In use, the probedevice is placed within a lengthof standard tube which is `known to have no flaws but which otherwise is similar to tubes Yto be examined, the 'oscillator circuit is energised and Vthe V'bridge vis balanced by adjustment ofjvariable resistance 21 and/orvariable re- .sistance 22, the ampliiier being switched at this ytime `to the meter 25. The pro-be Idevice is then placed in a tube to be tested, the amplifier 24 is switched V"to the phase Vdiscriminator '26 which is `arranged to be in a balanced condition, and the device is then passed along the tube.

apart from each other and the eddy currents produced at a given part of a tube will have decayed to zero before tube. A probe device of the type just described thus gives an indication of any thinning or thickening of the tube provided, of course, that any thickening is not sufficient to prevent the probe device passing along the tube.

When the iirst coil reaches a thinner portion of the tube, the bridge `-is unbalanced in one direction and, when So long as there are no tiaws'in the-tube, the bridge v remains 'balanced and' there is no output from the phase discriminator 26. The pen'of Vthe recorder 28 thus traces 'out a straight line. When a iiawis scanned by the Vmagnetic eld of the'leading coil 7, -which field, by reason ofthe small gap between the-pole pieces, is a concentrated 1 one, the eddy currents generated in thetube are changed, the electrical propertiesof the coil 7 are changed and the bridge becomes unbalanced. This results in an output signal from the phase d-iscriminator and the pen of the recorder, 28 moves either to the left or the right of `its former direction of movement. When'the second coil 8 'passes the flaw, the bridge is again unbalanced by an equa-l but opposite amount, since the coils and their external `magnetic elds are identical, and thus the pen moves in the opposite direction. When the'second coil v has passed "the flaw, the bridge Vreverts to lits previous balanced condition until anotherflaw is.reached,'and the pen continues to trace Aout a straight line.

' :In this way, an indication of the nature of the material maybe obtained. Furthermore, this may be obtained ata `relatively high speed, e.g. 200 feet per minute, since 'thegaps between the two sets of .pole faces are spaced the secondV coil reaches the thinner portion the bridge is unbalanced in the other direction by an equal amount since the coils are identical. The bridge circuit returns to its original condition and the record made by the pen is exactly the same as the record which is made when the probe device passes a flaw. lt is not, therefore, possible to discriminate betweenrlocalised aws on the one hand and' thinning or thickening on nthe other hand.

In order to discriminate between the two, the probe device is unbalanced magnetically by lmoving the'pole piece 13 either to the lright or to the left of its position shown in Figure l, and then fixing it in Yits new position, so that the gap between the pole pieces of one coil is greater or smaller than Ythat between the pole pieces of the other coil.` Suchv a modified probe device is shown in Figure 3, where the pole piece 13 has been moved to the right and the gap 15"betwcen adjacent pole faces of one pair of pole pieces 12, 13 is larger than the gap 16 between adjacent pole faces of the other pair of pole pieces 13, 14.

When a -probe device which is unbalanced magnetically is employed, the bridge circuit is balanced as described above, by varying the resistances in the circuit, and the device is Ithen passed along a tube. When a localised flaw is reached, the bridge becomes unbalanced by the rstV coil, is then unbalanced in the opposite sense by the second coil, and when the two coils have passed the flaw, the bridge reverts to its former state.

The pen of the recorder thus moves to one side of its normal direction of movement, then moves to the other side, and then returns to its former position.

lli-however, the probe enters a part of the tube which is of increased internal diameter, the two coils are unbalanced by different amounts, since the reaction of the eddy'currents on one coil is different from the reaction of the -eddy currents on the other coil. This unbalance persists throughout the whole length of the thin-ned portion of the tube and the eiect is to move the pen to one side or other of its former position, during the whole of that-period, so that the line traced by the pen is offset with respect to the line previously traced. It is thus possible to discriminate between flaws and thinning orrthick* ening. `Of course, any flaws in the thinned portion or thickened portion will be indicated by movements of the pen to one side and then the other of its new position.

In the probe devices shown in Figures l and 3, the pole faces of the pole pieces are parallel to the flanges 2, 3 and 4. In order to increase the sensitivity of the device, the configuration of the pole faces may be changed. For instance, as shown in Figure 4 the gaps 1.5 and 16 may be -of constant width-with the pole faces of the pole pieces 12, 13" and 14" inclined at an angle to the axis of the core 1 instead of being perpendicular to it.

In another embodiment .of the invention, see Figure 5, the probe device comprises a central core Slof magnetic material having end llanges 52 and 53, also of magnetic material. The leading end of the device is provided with a domeshaped nose-cap 54 which allows the device easily lto be inserted in Vand moved along a condenser tube l for other tubular member. 'The other end of the device lead wires to an external electrical circuit may be passed. A coil 56 -is Wound between the flanges 52 and 53, being insulated from the core 51, one end of the coil being connected to the core S1, which in turn is electrically connected to an electrical connection 57 and the other end of the coil being connected to one or other of the electrical connections 58 or 59.

The probe device has two pole pieces 60, 61, one being secured by a peg 62 to flange 52 and the other being securedby a peg 63 to flange 53. The two pole pieces are cylindrical and the gap between the pole faces of the pole pieces is shorter than the axial length of the coil.

In use, this probe device is passed along a tubular article to be examined, the coil forming one arm of an inductance bridge circuit. The corresponding arm of the bridge is a coil wound on a similar probe device t0 that shown in and described with reference to Figure 5. This similar probe device, however, remains stationary within a standard tube (this is to say a tube similar to that under examination without any flaws) during the examination of the other tubular article.

In the embodiments described above, which utilize two coils on the same core or a coil on each of two separate cores, the coils are substantially identical in all respects, and in order to introduce some degree of asymmetry for the purpose of detecting thinner portions of an article under examination the gap between one pair of pole pieces is made different from the gap between the other pair of pole pieces. In other modifications of lthe invention, lthis degree of asymmetry may be obtained by having the pole gaps equal and the two coils dissimilar from each other. In such cases, for example, the coils may be wound from the same wire with the number of turns on one coil different from the number of turns of the other coil; the number of turns may be the same but the Wire of one coil may have a ydifferent resistivity from that of the other coil; or the number of turns and the wire of one coil may be different from the number of turns and the wire of the other coil.

The probe devices described with reference to the drawings are adapted for use inside tubes of circular crosssection. They can, obviously, withsuitable modification be utilised for examining tube of a cross-section which is other than circular. Furthermore, probe devices in accordance with the invention can be designed for passing over the outer surface of an elongate article of any cross-section and in this case the pole pieces will lie inside the coils Iinstead of outside the coils.

A suitable probe device which is designed for passing over the outer surface of an elongate larticle of circular cross-section is shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 6, the probe device comprises a' hollow core 70 of non-magnetic material such as Tufnol, having three flanges 71, 72 and 73 extending radially outwardly thereof, and a nose-piece 74. Two substantially identical coils, 7S and 76, are wound respectively between the pairs of flanges 71, 72 and 72, 73. The coils are suitably connected as in the above embodiments to electrical connections 77 and 78. Three pole pieces 79, 80 and 81 of magnetic material are secured to the internal surface of the hollow core so that each coil is provided with a pair of pole pieces. The gap between each pair of pole pieces is the same but is less than the axial length of a coil. A bell-mouthed member 82 is screwed on to the nose-portion 7 4 `of the core to enable the probe device easily to be iled over the end of a metallic article which is to be examined.

The external probe device may be modified in the s-ame manner as the internal probe device described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for magnetically testing metallic articles for flaws, a probe'device which may be moved relative to an yarticle under test at speeds exceeding 2100 feet per minute and still effect accurate flaw detection comprising a core, threeflanges on said core, two insulated coil elements wound around said core, one between one pair of flanges, and the other between the other pair of flanges, and pole pieces of magnetic material associated with the coils and extending inwardly from each of said flanges to form two sets of pole faces respectively between adjacent flanges, the distance between ladjacent pole faces of adjacent pole pieces being less than the axial length of the associated coil with each such rtwo distances respectively forming magnetic field concentration gaps, said gaps being separated from each other a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to allow all eddy currents produced, in any given part of an article under test, by the concentrated magnetic field from the first of said gaps to decay completely before any eddy current is produced in said part lby the concentrated magnetic field from the other of said gaps even though the relative speed of the probe device and article being tested exceeds said feet per minute.

2. In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for flaws, a probe device which may be moved relative to an article under test at speeds exceeding 100 feet per minute and still effect accurate flaw detection comprising a core of magnetic material, a flange of magnetic material at each end of the core, a Vflange of magnetic material intermediate the ends of the core, said flanges extending radially outwardly of said core, two insulated coil elements wound around said core, one between one pair of said `flanges and the other between the other pair of said flanges, and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to said flanges and extending therefrom to form two sets of pole faces respectively between adjacent flanges, the pole pieces being substantially parallel to the axis of the core and the distance between adjacent pole faces of each pair of pole pieces forming a magnetic field concentration gap which is shorter than the distance between the associated adjacent flanges, said gaps being separated from each other a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to allow all eddy currents produced, in any given part of an article under test, by the concentrated magnetic field from the first of said gaps to decay completely during relative motion between said probe device `and the article being tested and before any eddy current is produced in said part by the concentrated magnetic field from the other of said gaps even though the relative speed of the probe device and article being tested exceeds said 100 feet per minute.

3. In `apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for flaws, a probe device which may be moved relative to an article under test at speeds exceeding 100 feet per minute and still effect accurate flaw detection comprising a core of magnetic material, a flange of magnetic material at each end of the core, a flange v of magnetic material intermediate the ends of the core, said flanges extending radially outwardly of said core, two insulated coil elements wound around said core, one between each pair of said flanges and the other between the other. pair of said flanges, and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to said flanges and extending therefrom to form two sets of pole faces respectively between adjacent flanges, the pole pieces being substantially parallel to the Mis ofthe core, the pole faces of the pole pieces being perpendicular to the axis of the core, and the distance between adjacent pole faces of each pair of pole pieces from la magnetic field concentration gap which is shorter than the distance between the associated adjacent flanges, said gaps being separated from each other a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to allow all eddy currents produced, in any given part'of lan article under test, by the concentrated magnetic field from the first of said gaps to decay completely before any eddy current is produced in said part by the concentrated magnetic field from the other of said gaps even though the relative speed of lthe probe device and article being tested exceeds said :100 feet perminuter f 4. In apparatus for magnetically' testing elongatel metallic articles for aws, a probe device according'to claim 3, A2in whichY the vcoils are substantially "identical and the distance between the adjacent pole Afaces -offone pair 'of pole pieces is the same as-the distance between theY fadjacentpole faces of vthe'other pair ofp'o'le pieces.

5. AIrtaapparatus 'for magnetically testing elongate rnet'allicY articles for aws, aprobedevice'according to claim 3 in which'lthe coils-are substantially identical and the distance between the adjacentpole faces-of one pairof pole pieces is ditferentffromV the distance between the `adjacent pole faces of Vrthe'othcr pair of pole pieces.

6. Inapparatus for magnetically testing elongate .metallic articles for aws, a probe device which may Vbe moved relative to an article under test at speeds 'exceeding 100 feet per 'minute and still effect accurate flaw detection comprising a core of magnetic material, a flange of magneticv material at each end of the core, a flange of magnetic material intermediate the ends ofthe core, said flanges extending radially outwardly of said core, two insulated coil elements wound around said core 'one between one pair of said flanges and the other between the other pair of said'flanges, and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to said flanges, the pole pieces being substantially parallel to the axis of the core, tde pole faces of the pole pieces being inclined at an yangle to the axis of the'core, and the distance between the adjacent pole faces of each pair of polepie'ces being less than the distance between adjacent flanges.

7. In lapparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic yarticles'for flaws, a probe device according to claim 6, in which the ldistance between the adjacent pole faces of one pair lof pole piecesis the same as the distance between the adjacent pole faces of the other pair of pole K pieces.

8. In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate'metallic articles 'for flaws, a probe device according to claim 6, in which the distance between the adjacent pole faces of one pairY of pole pieces is differentv from the distance between the adjacent pole faces -of the other pair ofipole pieces. l

9. In apparatus 'for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for flaws, a probe device which may' be moved relative to 'an article under test at speeds exceeding 100 feet per minute and still effect accurate iiaw detection comprising a hollow core of non-magnetic material, two flanges of non-magnetic material on said core extending radially outwardly thereof, and an insulated coil element wound around said core between said flanges, and pole pieces Vof magnetic material secured 'to the internal surface of the core and associated with the coil, pole pieces being substantially parallel 'to the axis of the core and the distance between the two pole faces of the pole pieces being less than the distance between the fianges.

d0. In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for fiaws, a probe device which may be moved relative to an article under test at speeds exceeding feet per minute and still effect accurate flaw detection comprising a hollow core of non-magnetic Amaterial, three flanges of non-magnetic material extending outwardly of said core,tw'o insulated coil elements wound around said core one between one pair of said flanges land the other 'between the other pair of said tlanges,and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to the internal surface of the core, one pair of pole pieces being associated with one coil and forming a first magnetic field concentration gap between the` associated pair of flanges, the other pair of pole pieces being associated with the other coil and forming a second magnetic tield Yconcentration gap between lthe associated pair of flanges, said pole pieces `being Ysubstantially `parallel tothe axis of the core and the distance between the adjacentpole faces of each pair of pole ,pieces being less than the axial" length of the coil, said gaps being separated 'fromeach other (a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to allow all eddy currents produced, in any `given'part of a'n article under test, by the `concentrated magnetic field from the first of said gaps to-decay completely during relative motion 'between said probe device and the article being tested and before Iany eddy current is produced in said part by the concentrated magnetic field from the other of said gaps eve'n though the relative speed of the prove device and article being tested exceeds said l0() feet 'per minute.

ll. in apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles'for iiaws, a probe device which may be moved relative to an article under test at speeds exceeding 1GO feet per minute and still effect accurate aw detection Vcomprising a hollow core of 'non-magnetic material, `three vflanges of non-magnetic material extending radially outwardly of said core, two insulated coil elementswound round saidcore, one between one pair of said flanges land theother between 'the other pair ci said flanges, and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to the internal surface of the core, one pair of pole pieces being associated with onecoil and forming a first magnetic fieldconcentration gap between the associated pair of flanges, they other pair of pole ypieces being sociated with the other coil and lforming a second magneticeld concentration gap between the associated pair of anges, said pole pieces being substantially parallel to lthe axis of the core, the pole faces Vof the pole pieces being perpendicular to the axis of vthe core, and the distance between the pole faces and each pair of pole pieces being less than the distance between the associated adjacent flanges, said gaps being separated from each other a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to yallow all eddy currents produced, in any given part vof an article under test, Vby the concentrated magnetic field from the lfirst of said gaps to become juxtaposed said part due to relative motion between said probe device and the article being tested, to decay completely before Y any eddy current is produced in said part by the concentrated lmagnetic iield from the other of said gaps even though the relative speed `of the probe device vand articleibeing tested exceeds said feet per minute.

l2. -In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallicV articles for flaws, a probe device according to claim l-l, in which the coils are substantially identical and the distance between the adjacent pole faces of one pair of pole pieces is the same as the distance betweenthe adjacent pole faces of theother-pair of pole pieces.

13. InV apparatus for magnetically testing elongate Y metallic articles for Vfiaws, a probe device Vaccording 'to claim lll, in which the coils are substantially identical and the distance between the adjacent pole faces of one pair of pole pieces is different from the distance between the adjacent polefaces of the other pair of polepieces.

14. In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for flaws, a probe device which may be moved relative to anrarticrle underY test at speeds exceeding 100 feet per minute and still effect accurate flaw detection comprising a hollow core of non-magnetic material, threeranges of non-magnetic material extending radially outwardly of said core, two insulated coil elements wound round said core, one between one pair of `said flanges and the other between the other pair of said flanges, and pole pieces of magnetic material secured to the internal surface of ther,` ore, one pair of pole pieces being associated with one coil and forming a first magnetic field concentration gap between the associated pair of flanges the other p air of pole pieces being lassociated with the other coil and forming -a second magneticV field concentration gap between the associated pair of flanges, said pole pieces being substantially parallel to the axis ofthe core, the pole faces of the pole pieces being inclined at an angle to the axis of the core, and the distance between the pole facesand each pair ofpolejpieces being less than the Ydistance 'between 'the associated adjacent anges, said gaps being separated from each other a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to allow all eddy currents produced, in any given part of an article under test, by the concentrated magnetic iield from the iirst of said gaps to become juxtaposed said part due to relative motion between said probe device and the -article being tested, to decay completely before any eddy current is produced in said part by the concentrated magnetic eld from the other of said gaps even though the relative speed of the probe device and article being tested exceeds said 100 feet per minute.

-15. In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for aws, a probe device according to claim 14, in which the distance between the adjacent pole faces of one pair of pole pieces is the same as the distance between the adjacent pole faces of the other pair of pole pieces.

'16. In apparatus for magnetically testing elongate metallic articles for aws, a probe device Vaccording to claim 14, in which the distance between the adjacent pole faces of one pair of pole pieces is diierent from the distance between the adjacent pole faces of the other pair of pole pieces.

17. In apparatus including a bridge circuit connected to a generator of electrical oscillations for m-agnetically testing metallic articles for ilaws, two coils, at least one of which is for a respective one of two diiferent arms of said bridge circuit, a core for each of said coils, a flange at each end of each coil, yand a magnetic pole piece extending from each iiange to form two sets of pole faces respectively between each two adjacent anges, the distance between the pole faces of each set thereof forming a magnetic field concentration gap which is shorter than the axial length of the associated coil, said gaps being separated from each other a distance several times the width of either of the gaps to allow all eddy currents produced, in `any given part of an article under test, by the concentrated magnetic field of the rst of said gaps to decay completely before any eddy current is produced in said part by the concentrated magnetic eld from the other of said gaps and thereby eiect accurate taw detection even though the relative motion speed exceeds feet per minute.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17 including means for effecting diierent magnetic ields at said two sets of pole faces respectively during the testing of `an article.

19. Apparatus as in claim l including means for effecting a difference between the magnetic lield at one gap andthe magnetic field at the other gap.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein the gaps are of diiferent widths to eect said difference between the magnetic iields.

21. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the pole faces of at least one set thereof are inclined at an angle to the axis of said core.

22. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the probe device is constructed to test the exterior surface of a metallic article.

123. Apparatus as in claim l wherein the probe device is constructed to test the interior surface of a hollow metallic article.

24. In a method of testing a metallic article for flaws by a probe device, the steps of relatively moving said `article and device at 'a speed exceeding 100 feet per minute, producing eddy currents in successive parts of said article by a concentrated magnetic eld issuing from a leading gap in said device, producing other eddy currents in said parts respectively at later times by a second magnetic eld issuing from a lagging gap in said device, and causing -any eddy current produced from the leading gap field in any of said parts to decay completely before the production in that pant of any eddy current by the lagging gap eld.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,904 McNamee et al. Oct. 21, 1941 2,508,494 Cook et al. May 23, 1950 2,540,588 Long Feb. 6, 1951 2,540,589 Long Feb. 6, 1951 2,811,690 Sargent Oct. 29, 1957 

